| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR05601 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: 3 cm; Wallet/s: 1 |
| Object type | Letter |
| Maker |
Foster, James Herbert |
| Place made | Australia, Malaya |
| Date made | 1942-1945 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
Foster, James Herbert (Private, b.1922 - d.2016)
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX63764 Private James Herbert Foster, 2/29 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia and Singapore, 1942-1945.
Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of three folders of material relating to Private Foster.
Folder 1 of 3 contains 30 letters [including original envelopes] and 10 postcards from Private Foster’s family to Private Foster. These items of correspondence, dated between c early-mid 1942 and 8 August 1945, were mainly written by Private Foster’s mother, Mrs Nellie Vera Foster [née Baum]. They were sent to Private Foster while he was a prisoner of war of the Japanese. In their letters to their son and brother, Private Foster’s family members write about their wellbeing, news regarding mutual friends, football scores, family holidays, recreational activities, siblings’ relationships, being hopeful of receiving news from him, racing results, family pets, and being thrilled at receiving word from him. They also send their love and best wishes to him regularly.
Folder 2 of 3 contains four postcards from Private Foster to his parents, dated between c 1942 and 9 August 1944. In his postcards, written while he was a prisoner of war of the Japanese, Private Foster briefly mentions the treatment of prisoners, the food, being with his friend 'Bob' [identity unknown], their wellbeing, and receiving letters and a photograph from home.
Folder 3 of 3 contains four telegraphs from the Minister for the Army to Private Foster’s father, Herbert Lester Foster. These telegrams dated between 15 and 27 September 1945 relate to Private Foster’s liberation and return to Australia.
History / Summary
Private James Herbert Foster enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 22 September 1941. He served with 2/29 Australian Infantry Battalion in Malaya, but was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in February 1942. Private Foster spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner, and returned to Australia in September 1945. He was discharged on 27 November 1945.